With a new round of Panorama survey results in hand, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is renewing its commitment to building strong relationships with students and families.
WS/FCS regularly partners with Panorama Education to survey students, teachers, staff members, and parents about their experiences with the district. Questions cover students’ learning behaviors outside of the classroom, how safe kids feel at school, what teachers do to get parents involved in their child’s education, potential barriers to family engagement, and much more. The 2024 survey received responses from 32,189 students, 4,337 staff members and 6,270 families, the last of which was a record high mark.
Rapport within school communities was a high point in the survey. 83% of families feel that their student’s school communicates well with people from their culture. Among teachers, 80% say their school leaders treat them respectfully, and 75% are confident that their school leaders have their school’s best interests in mind. 85% of secondary students and 84% of elementary students say their teachers are respectful of them.
The survey also identified a few areas where improvements can be made, mainly in student self-efficacy and sense of belonging. About half of students (56% elementary and 47% secondary) are confident in their abilities to achieve their academic goals, and about half of teachers (53%) feel understood and connected to by colleagues. Only 44% of secondary students feel they belong at their school.
The results offer encouraging signs that the district’s initiatives in social-emotional learning are working and that districtwide leaders are earning trust through consistent communication with staff. Going forward, the district’s SEL team will work with Panorama to identify actionable strategies for areas of growth, enhance workplace culture, and ensure as many stakeholder voices as possible are heard.
SEL Coach Lindsey Hayek is thankful that the district has Panorama as a strategic tool. All of this data will translate into plans and policies that will refine the educational experience at WS/FCS to better serve students, and stakeholders will be directly responsible for shaping those plans and policies. Maintaining trusting relationships with students, staff members, and families is essential to the district’s success, and Panorama helps keep those lines of communication open.
“We’re seeing a strong districtwide effort to communicate with teachers and families and elevate as many voices as we can,” Hayek said. “I think that’s something very positive.”
Central Office employees can expect to see a new Panorama survey focused specifically on their work experiences launching this spring.